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Saturday, July 13, 2013

Bunnahabhain’s range of single malts, produced on the world-famous Isle of Islay, is reeling in the awards. The 18- and 25-year-old single malts both took gold at the 2013 International Spirits Challenge in London shortly after taking double gold and gold respectively at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, proving that the distillery’s move to un-chillfiltering its whiskies has certainly raised the taste profile of these exceptional drams.

Bunnahabhain 18 year old

Pronounced Bū-na-ha-venn, the entire range of single malt whiskies is un-chillfiltered and this traditional whisky-making process enhances its depth of flavour, aroma, colour and character. As whisky expert Dominic Roskrow recently commented about the un-chillfiltered range “the extra strength is to the whisky like what High Definition is to television, bringing the oral sensation into sharp focus”.

The Bunnahabhain distillery was established in 1881 and the close proximity to the ocean of its maturation warehouse, quite uniquely marks a noticeable sea influence in their aroma, palate and finish. They are also the only whiskies on Islay to be crafted from unpeated malted barley and to use a natural spring water source, the Margadale spring, situated about a mile north-west of the distillery.

The Bunnahabhain 18-year old, matured in 40% ex-sherry casks and 60% ex-bourbon casks, is rich with honeyed nuts, toffee and a slight salty tang on the nose. Beautifully balanced, the palate is influenced by mellow sherried nuts and wood shavings. The 25-year-old holds sweet caramel dessert aromas with subtle oak and polished leather on the nose leading to sweet berries, cream, salt and spiced-oak on the palate. The whisky has been matured in predominantly ex-bourbon casks with a small percentage of ex-sherry casks used.

The whiskies are available at most fine liquor outlets and retails for about R900 for the 18- year-old and R2 390 for the 25-year-old.